Been working on my 78 Utiline recently. Just want to get or running and driving so I can enjoy it. I've had it for about a year now. Got it for a song and they even trailered it to my house (1 hr drive one way!). Has a 225 w/ a 3 on the tree. Eventually I will build a 505 for it (78 440 is sitting in the corner of my garage waiting) that is about 600hp/600ftlb on pump gas (or I may consider E85) and an auto.

Found some old slots and lowered it this past weekend. I'm digging the stance! Here are some pics.

Engine seemed to have a miss. Checked compression and #3 was at about 30psi while the rest were 120. Pulled the head, looked fine, no burnt valves and gasket was good. The top thrust side of a few of the pistons were eroded a little on the edge (maybe had water in them at some point?). Pulled the pistons and all of the top rings were broken in half! #3 was in about 6 pieces and the second ring was busted. Ordered replacement pistons, rings and rod bearings and did a frame in "rebuild" just so I can drive it for a while. Back together and running better but one of the rocker adjusters was loose. I need to tighten it up before I start driving it regularly. May try a jam nut or peening the outside to tighten it back up. It does have a Super Six intake that someone installed at some point.

Here is the future engine holding the floor down right now.

Nice truck, looks great lowered. Getting close to setting my 505 in.

good lookin old truck

Sweet!

Sweet!
I'll eventually find another '72-'80 truck (in decent shape, I hope) when I have the time to work on it and room for it. A Utiline would be nice.
Here's an old pic of my '78 PW I bought new-

Nice! I've got an old 73 PW rock crawler I finished last year.

Nice job.



Tim

Couldn't wait. After working on my buddies 454 for last few weeks, I NEED to drop the 440 into the 78 Utiline! That slant 6 ain't cutting it for torque. Scored 3 items recently to get me there: Dana 60 FF that I'll cut down and convert to a SF, low miles 727 Trans with the torque converter, and an auto column.

Debating on going straight to ladder bars when I do the 60. I really would like to keep them on the outside of the frame and use the front spring mount for the bars. I'll have to build my own but any thoughts on this? The reason for wanting to do it this way is so I can keep my stock fuel tank.

Maybe I should just keep it simple and tune some leaf springs and Caltracs.

The leaf springs and Caltracs will work fine and save time AND money, cool build!

Thanks. That does seem to be the more sensible option.

Great looking truck! I'm glad to see more people building trucks.

I went with a '69 mustang gas tank - check out posts #1220272 and #1220292 on this link: https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbt...tml#Post1220262



I'm using stock leafs on mine. Leaf technology has come a long way over the years. People are going 1.10 60ft on them so a set of Caltracs or Assassins should do the trick.

Did you remove some leaves? I seem to recall mine having more.

Nice project keep the updates coming

Any other pics of your roll bar? Looks pretty tidy.

No. I actually added an extra main leaf.

Made some rooms for the BB. Sold the engine and Trans.



440 is on the stand ready to be cleaned up and regasketed.